Device for conveying a slurry, such as sand or gravel or the like, lying under water

Abstract

A dredger device for conveying sand or gravel or the like lying under water in which the material enters a conveyor head and is conveyed through a variable length tube into a receptacle on the dredger. In the interior of the variable length tube there is a flexible tube having one end connected to the conveyor head and the other end connected to a hose reel. The conveyed material travels through the interior tube to the hose reel and through an opening therein to a receptacle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Dredging apparatus for conveying bulk material such as sand, gravel or the like lying under water, said apparatus comprising the combination of a dredger body,   a telescopic tube having a plurality of sections telescoping into one another, the upper end of said telescopic tube being fixed to said dredger body,   a conveyor head attached to the lower end of said telescopic tube for collecting bulk material and directing it into said telescopic tube,   a flexible hose of fixed length extending through the interior of said telescopic tube and permitting telescoping movement of said tube sections thereover, and   a hose reel mounted on said dredger body and connected to the upper end of said hose for winding and unwinding said hose during telescoping movement of the sections of said telescopic tube.   
     
     
       2. The dredging apparatus of claim 1 in which the flexible hose comprises several hose sections connected with one another at their ends. 
     
     
       3. The dredging apparatus of claim 1 which includes a baffle container for receiving bulk material from the upper end of said hose. 
     
     
       4. The dredging apparatus of claim 2 which includes a baffle container for receiving bulk material from the upper end of said hose. 
     
     
       5. The dredging apparatus of claim 3 in which the baffle container and the hose reel are commonly rotatable. 
     
     
       6. The dredging apparatus of claim 4 in which the baffle container and the hose reel are commonly rotatable. 
     
     
       7. The dredging apparatus of claim 3 in which the inside of the baffle container is rubber lined for wear protection. 
     
     
       8. The dredging apparatus of claim 4 in which the inside of the baffle container is rubber lined for wear protection. 
     
     
       9. The dredging apparatus of claim 5 in which the inside of the baffle container is rubber lined for wear protection. 
     
     
       10. The dredging apparatus of claim 6 in which the inside of the baffle container is rubber lined for wear protection. 
     
     
       11. The dredging apparatus of any of claims 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 in which the baffle container has a bottom inclined conically inwardly, terminating in an outlet which is defined by a wall extending upwardly beyond the lowermost area of the bottom of the container. 
     
     
       12. Dredging apparatus for conveying bulk material such as sand, gravel or the like lying under water, said apparatus comprising the combination of a dredger body,   a telescopic tube having a plurality of sections telescoping into one another, the upper end of said telescopic tube being fixed to said dredger body,   means for preventing the individual sections of said telescopic tube from twisting relative to each other,   a conveyor head attached to the lower end of said telescopic tube for collecting bulk material and directing it into said telescopic tube, said conveyor head being mounted for rotational movement about the axis of said telescopic tube, and   a flexible hose of fixed length extending through the interior of said telescopic tube and permitting telescoping movement of said tube sections thereover.   
     
     
       13. The dredging apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveyor head is mounted for rotational movement about the axis of said telescopic tube, and which includes means for preventing the individual sections of said telescopic tube from twisting relative to each other. 
     
     
       14. The dredging apparatus of claim 12 which includes a hose reel mounted on said dredger body and connected to the upper end of said hose for winding and unwinding said hose during telescoping movement of the sections of said telescopic tube.